U.S. patent number 8,720,753 [Application Number 12/686,451] was granted by the patent office on 2014-05-13 for handgun holster.
The grantee listed for this patent is Miroslav Bene{hacek over (s)}. Invention is credited to Miroslav Bene{hacek over (s)}.
United States Patent |
8,720,753 |
|
May 13, 2014 |
Handgun holster
Abstract
A handgun holster has a shaped holster body with through cavity
for inserting and withdrawing the gun, which is furnished with a
support for attaching the holster to the user, with a trigger
safety catch and with a security system against removal of the gun
from the holster where, in each of the two side walls of the
holster body, in the area designed for ensuring the position of the
inserted gun, there is a specularly arranged recess in which a
safety catch is lodged. This recess has an opening for passage of
the functional part of the safety catch into the cavity of the
holster in the area designed for positioning the trigger guard of
the gun. The outer covering of the safety catch, in the resting
position, fits against the outer peripheral surface of the recess,
while the functional part of the safety catch is a flat projection
whose outer perimeter is smaller than the outer perimeter of the
covering of the safety catch, so that this covering bears against
the shoulder formed along the inner perimeter of the recess. Each
safety catch is positioned on a pin fastened into the corresponding
side wall of the body of the holster.
Inventors: |
Bene{hacek over (s)}; Miroslav
(Hradec Kralove, CZ) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bene{hacek over (s)}; Miroslav |
Hradec Kralove |
N/A |
CZ |
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Family
ID: |
42352485 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/686,451 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2010 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20110168748 A1 |
Jul 14, 2011 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jan 15, 2009 [CZ] |
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PV 2009-14 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/244; 224/911;
224/198; 224/193; 224/243; 224/238; 224/192; 224/912 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C
33/0236 (20130101); F41C 33/0263 (20130101); F41C
33/043 (20130101); F41C 33/045 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41C
33/00 (20060101); F41C 33/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;224/244,192,193,198,238,243,911,912 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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17500 |
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Apr 2007 |
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CZ |
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EP1975542 |
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Jan 2008 |
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CZ |
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Other References
Extended European Search Report received for EP Patent Application
No. 08004700.4, mailed on Mar. 31, 2010, 5 pages. cited by
applicant .
Notice of Allowance received for U.S. Appl. No. 12/007,682, mailed
on Dec. 13, 2010, 14 pages. cited by applicant .
Czech Office Action dated Feb. 16, 2010 and partial English
translation, 3 pages (1 page of partial English translation and 2
pages of Office Action). cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Nash; Brian D
Assistant Examiner: Battisti; Derek
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Patent GC LLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A handgun holster kit, comprising: a holster body including two
side walls defining a through cavity for inserting and withdrawing
a gun, each wall having an inner surface facing the gun and an
outer surface; a plurality of safety catches, including a thumb
catch, an index finger catch and at least two resistance catches; a
plurality of pins, each pin adapted to fit each of the safety
catches; a plurality of springs, each spring adapted to fit at
least the thumb catch and the index finger catch; and wherein, in
the outer surface of each of the two side walls of the holster
body, in an area of the through cavity designed for the gun, there
are specularly arranged recesses, with one recess in each of the
two side walls in which one of the safety catches is adapted to be
attached, each of the safety catches being adapted to fit in each
of the recesses, wherein each recess has an opening for passage of
a functional part of each of the safety catches into the through
cavity in an area designed for positioning a trigger guard of the
gun, wherein an outer covering of each safety catch, when in a
resting position on the holster, is flush with an outer peripheral
surface of the recess, wherein the functional part of each safety
catch is a projection having an outer perimeter smaller than an
outer perimeter of the outer covering of the safety catch, so that
an inner surface of the outer covering bears against a shoulder
formed along an inner perimeter of the recess when the safety catch
is mounted in the recess and in the resting position, wherein each
safety catch is adapted to be mounted in each of the recesses with
one of the pins, such that the safety catch can rotate about the
pin when mounted, wherein the thumb catch and index finger catch
are adapted to be mounted in each recess with one of the springs,
wherein the spring is adapted to be positioned between an inner
surface of the safety catch and the outer surface of the recess so
that, when the safety catch is mounted in the recess with the
spring, the spring pushes the functional part of the safety catch
through the opening and into the through cavity of the holster
body, and wherein each resistance catch is adapted to be mounted in
each of the recesses.
2. A handgun holster kit according to claim 1, wherein at least one
of the safety catches is a twin-arm lever and the spring is
positioned on a pin, wherein the twin-arm lever is pushed by its
functional part, under pressure from the spring, into the through
cavity of the body of the holster and is furnished with a stop for
opening motion of the safety catch.
3. A handgun holster kit according to claim 2, wherein a control
part of the at least one of the safety catches projects from the
body of the holster.
4. A handgun holster kit according to claim 2, wherein an outer
surface of each safety catch fits against an outer surface of the
side wall of the body of the holster.
5. A handgun holster kit according to claim 4, wherein a lower part
of the functional part of the resistance catch, in the direction of
the through cavity of the body of the holster, is rounded for a
taper of the trigger guard of the gun and full deflection of the
safety catch during withdrawal of the gun from the holster.
6. A handgun holster kit according to claim 1, wherein the
functional part of the resistance catch is a rounded flexible
tongue having a free flexible end shaped to extend into the through
cavity of the body of the holster, and a stop is embedded in the
side wall of the body of the holster to engage an upper end of the
safety catch.
7. A handgun holster kit according to claim 6, wherein the side
walls of the body of the holster are specularly arranged and are
reinforced in the area of the recess.
8. A handgun holster kit according to claim 7, wherein the side
walls of the body of the holster are furnished on their outer
surface with a circular recess with cogged perimeter and with a
central threaded opening for adjustable fastening of a support of
the holster in a chosen position.
9. A handgun holster kit according to claim 8, wherein a front wall
of the body of the holster has a guide groove for gun sights, on an
inside surface of the through cavity from top to bottom of the
front wall.
10. A handgun holster kit according to claim 9, wherein, in a rear
wall of the body of the holster, there is an upwardly open slot to
facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the gun.
11. A handgun holster kit according to claim 10, wherein the
support is furnished with a body rest.
12. A handgun holster kit according to claim 11, wherein the body
of the holster is a flat plastic molded part with lateral sides
bent into a U-shape to form the through cavity.
13. A handgun holster kit, comprising: a holster body including two
side walls defining a through cavity for inserting and withdrawing
a gun, each wall having an inner surface facing the gun and an
outer surface; a plurality of safety catches, including a thumb
catch, and index finger catch and at least two resistance catches,
wherein the thumb catch and the index finger catch have a
functional part with a flat projection, and wherein the resistance
catches have a functional part with a rounded projection; a
plurality of pins, each pin adapted to fit each of the safety
catches; a plurality of springs, each spring adapted to fit at
least the thumb catch and the index finger catch; wherein the outer
surface of each of the two side walls of the holster body, in an
area of the through cavity designed for the gun, includes
specularly arranged recesses, with one recess in each of the two
side walls in which one of the safety catches is adapted to be
attached, each of the safety catches being adapted to fit in each
of the recesses; wherein each recess has an opening for passage of
the functional part of each of the safety catches into the through
cavity in an area designed for positioning a trigger guard of the
gun; wherein each safety catch is adapted to be mounted in each of
the recesses with one of the pins, such that the safety catch can
rotate about the pin when mounted; wherein the thumb catch and
index finger catch are adapted to be mounted in one of the recesses
with one of the springs, wherein the spring is positioned between
an inner surface of the safety catch and the outer surface of the
recess so that, when the safety catch is mounted in the recess with
the spring, the spring pushes the functional part of the safety
catch through the opening and into the through cavity of the
holster body, and wherein each resistance catch is adapted to be
mounted in each of the recesses.
14. A handgun holster kit according to claim 13, wherein the recess
has an outer peripheral surface and a shoulder formed along an
inner perimeter of the recess, wherein each safety catch has an
outer covering that is flush with the outer peripheral surface of
the recess when the safety catch is in a resting position, and
wherein the functional part of the safety catch is a projection
having an outer perimeter smaller than an outer perimeter of the
outer covering of the safety catch, so that an inner surface of the
outer covering of the safety catch bears against the shoulder of
the recess when the safety catch is in the resting position.
15. A handgun holster kit according to claim 13, wherein each of
the side walls of the body of the holster is furnished on the outer
surface with a circular recess with a cogged perimeter and a
central threaded opening for adjustable fastening of a support of
the holster in a chosen position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention involves an arrangement for a handgun holster,
comprising external and internal safety elements to secure the gun
and prevent its removal from the holster.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
There has always been a need to ensure that a gun does not fall out
of a handgun holster, that it does not work loose in the holster
and that it could not be subject to unauthorized removal. The known
standard safeguards against removal of the gun from the holster
include covering flaps or restraining straps to go around the
holstered gun. These safeguards are described and illustrated, for
example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,630,420, 4,694,980 and 5,018,654. To
secure the gun against unauthorized removal or to prevent it from
falling out of the holster, various mechanisms are used, generally
with a spring-loaded catch which blocks the gun in its trigger
guard space. Typical embodiments of these holsters are disclosed,
for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 468,556, 1,113,530, 1,851,352,
1,951,865, 4,101,060, 4,277,007, 5,018,654, 5,810,221, 6,732,891,
6,769,582, 6,799,392, in CZ Utility Model No. 17500 etc. An object
of the present invention is to provide an improved holster for
revolvers and other handguns. A further object is to present a
holster which will permit the user to choose one of several degrees
of security for the gun in relation to any given use, and which
allows the holster to be changed from the right to the left side
with minimal expense, while retaining the same holster
components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A handgun holster includes a shaped holster body with a through
cavity for inserting and withdrawing the gun, which can be
furnished with various kinds of supports, with or without a body
rest, for attaching the holster to the user, with an external and
an internal trigger safety catch and with complementary elements to
secure the gun against removal from the holster. In each of two
opposite side walls of the holster body, in the area designed for
ensuring the position of the inserted gun, there is a specularly
arranged recess, in which can be lodged a safety element or safety
catch, extending into the inner space of the gun, or it can be a
blind recess. This recess has an opening for passage of the
functional part of a safety catch into the cavity of the holster in
the area designed for positioning the trigger guard of the gun. The
outer covering of the safety catch, in the resting position, fits
against the outer peripheral surface of the recess, where the
functional part of the safety catch is a flat projection whose
outer perimeter is smaller than the outer perimeter of the covering
of the safety catch, so that this covering bears against the
shoulder formed along the inner perimeter of the recess, whilst
each safety catch is positioned on a pin fastened into the
corresponding side wall of the body of the holster. The strap can
be furnished with a body rest.
The safety catch, in one embodiment, is a twin-arm lever and is
pushed by its functional part, under pressure from a distancing
spring positioned on a pin, into the through cavity of the body of
the holster and at the same time it is furnished with a stop of the
opening motion of the safety catch. The control part of the safety
catch can be bent out from the body of the holster. This is called
a thumb safety catch. In another embodiment the whole outer surface
of the safety catch fits against the outer surface of the side wall
of the body of the holster. This is called an index-finger safety
catch. The resistance safety catch with inner spring preferably
takes the shape of an index-finger safety catch, where the lower
part of the body of the safety catch, in the direction of the
cavity in the body of the holster, is rounded for the taper of the
trigger guard of the gun and full deflection of the safety catch
during withdrawal of the gun from the holster.
In a further embodiment the functional part of the safety catch is
a rounded flexible tongue, shaped so that it extends into the
through cavity of the body of the holster with its free flexible
end whilst against its upper end, embedded in the side wall of the
body of the holster, a stop is arranged in the holster.
The side walls of the body of the holster are specularly arranged
and are reinforced in the area of the recess. The side walls of the
body of the holster can be furnished on their outer surface with a
circular recess with cogged perimeter and with a central threaded
opening for adjustable fastening of the support of the assembly in
its desired modification and subsequent arrest of the chosen
position, for assembly of the restraining strap or the release
lever of the restraining strap, of the covering flap or of further
complementary elements of the assembly.
The front wall of the body of the holster can have a guide groove
for the gun sights, on the inside and running from top to bottom of
said front wall, to guide and adjust the position of the gun in the
holster during insertion and withdrawal. The shape of the guide
groove protects the sights against impairment or damage during
manipulation of the gun in the holster and at the same time
increases the rigidity of the front wall of the body of the
holster.
In the rear wall of the body of the holster, there can be an
upwardly open slot to facilitate the insertion and withdrawal of
the gun. The body of the holster can be a flat plastic molded part
whose lateral sides are bent into a U-shape to create a through
cavity and secured in the desired position.
This holster is an open modular system which takes advantage of all
the structural elements and at the same time provides space for the
use of newly designed complementary parts. With appropriate
selection of the complementary components, the design permits
concealed use of the holster as a belt service holster, through to
an embodiment for use with the lower installed thigh supports
employed by special units. The advantage of this system lies in the
simplicity, precision and adaptability of the parts for various
holster assemblies with varying degrees of security according to
the needs of the user. It meets user requirements for an
arrangement of extension and complementary holster elements in
right and left assemblies, with uniform parts for these two
alternative uses. The user can choose his/her own combination of
safety elements according to the intended use of the holster. It
offers greater possibilities for modification of the holster, not
only in terms of wear (under the arm, on a belt or on a lower thigh
support) but also of its rotation up to 360.degree.. Three types of
security elements can be combined in the basic embodiment, namely,
the thumb safety catch, the index-finger safety catch and the
resistance safety catch, depending upon the use of the holster. Use
can involve recreational shooting where two resistance safety
catches are used and the gun can be withdrawn from the holster
without squeezing the mechanical safety catches, concealed wearing
of the gun, where one or two mechanical safety catches are
appropriate, to exposed wearing of the gun while on duty, where two
mechanical safety catches are used, possibly with the addition of
an upper restraining strap and corresponding safety lever. All the
elements can be used in both right-handed and left-handed
embodiments of the holster. It involves an open modular system,
with use of all the structural elements of the basic assembly,
which also allows space for use of the newly designed complementary
parts. The resistance safety catch with interior spring works like
a thumb or index-finger safety catch and uses the same pins and
springs.
The modular solution makes possible, in a simple assembly, to put
together holsters for concealed use, to be worn under-arm, on the
belt, below the belt for service holsters, through to the
embodiment of holster assemblies with the lower installed thigh
supports used by special units requiring multiple security systems
for the gun in the holster, with the possibility of choosing
left-handed or right-handed arrangement of the safeguarding,
controlling, support and complementary elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the
drawings and by means of the following description of the examples
of preferred embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, from two angles, of one embodiment of
a holster.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
holster.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
holster.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a side wall of the body of an embodiment
of the holster.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a thumb safety
catch.
FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an index finger
safety catch.
FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a resistance
safety catch.
FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.
9.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the security system of the gun in
the holster using a thumb safety catch on one side and an index
finger safety catch on the other.
FIG. 12 is another sectional view of the security system of the gun
in the holster using a thumb safety catch on one side and an index
finger safety catch on the other.
FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the security system of the gun in
the holster using a thumb safety catch on one side and a resistance
safety catch on the other.
FIG. 14 is another sectional view of the security system of the gun
in the holster using a thumb safety catch on one side and a
resistance safety catch on the other.
FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the security system of the gun in
the holster using an index finger safety catch on one side and a
resistance safety catch on the other.
FIG. 16 is another sectional view of the security system of the gun
in the holster using an index finger safety catch on one side and a
resistance safety catch on the other.
FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the security system of the gun in
the holster using two resistance safety catches.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a twin-torsional
distancing spring.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the holster body assembly in
dismantled state with an index-finger safety catch.
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the holster body assembly in
dismantled state with a thumb safety catch.
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the holster body assembly in
dismantled state with a resistance safety catch.
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a holster body with mounted safety
catches, on one side with thumb safety catch and on the opposite
side with resistance safety catch.
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a holster body with mounted
resistance safety catches along both sides of the body of the
holster.
FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a holster body, as in FIG. 22,
with a covering flap.
FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a holster body, as in FIG. 22,
with a restraining strap.
FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a holster body, as in FIG. 23,
with a covering flap.
FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a holster body, as in FIG. 23,
with a restraining strap.
FIGS. 28 to 31 are perspective views of various embodiments of a
holster support with body rests.
FIG. 32 is a plan view of an embodiment of a flat plastic body of
the holster with spacer in a flat position.
FIG. 33 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a body of the
holster in a folded position.
FIG. 34 is a plan view of an embodiment of a body of the holster in
a flat position.
FIG. 35 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a body of the
holster in a flat position.
FIG. 36 is a plan view of an embodiment of a body of the holster in
a flat position.
FIG. 37 is a perspective view of an example of the spacer.
FIG. 38 is a lateral view of another embodiment of a resistance
safety catch.
FIG. 39 is a view of the inside of the holster with the resistance
safety catch as in FIG. 38.
FIG. 40 is a vertical section of the body of the holster with the
resistance safety catch.
FIG. 41 is a view from the outer side of the resistance safety
catch in the body of the holster.
FIG. 42 is a perspective view of the inner side of the resistance
safety catch FIG. 38.
FIG. 43 is the view of FIG. 42, with a mounted pin and inner
spring.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of a holster, viewed from
two angles. To ensure the position of the inserted gun in the
holster, the holster is furnished on one lateral side with a
so-called thumb safety catch and on the opposite lateral side with
a so-called index-finger safety catch, these two safety catches are
lodged in recesses in the lateral sides and each individually is a
twin-arm lever which is pushed by its functional part, under
pressure from a distancing spring positioned on a pin, into the
through cavity of the body of the holster and at the same time it
is furnished with a stop of the opening motion of the safety
catch.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate two different embodiments of the holster,
showing the arrangement of the recesses in the lateral sides of the
holster, designed for insertion of the corresponding trigger safety
catches. FIG. 4 shows details of this area of the side wall of the
body of the holster where, in the adjacent part, the outer surface
of the side wall is furnished with a circular recess with cogged
perimeter and with a central threaded opening for adjustable
fastening of the belt supports, of the end of the restraining strap
or of the release lever of the restraining strap, or of the
covering flap.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show two different views of the securing element (the
safety catch) extending into the inner space of the trigger guard,
which is a twin-arm lever with flat projection of its functional
part, where its control part is bent outwards. This is the
so-called thumb safety catch. FIGS. 7 and 8 again show two
different views of the safety catch, which is a twin-arm lever with
flat projection of its functional part, where the outer surface of
the safety catch, after its assembly in the body of the holster,
fits against the outer surface of the side wall of the body of the
holster. This is the so-called index-finger safety catch. FIGS. 9
and 10 show a further possible embodiment of the safety catch, the
so-called resistance safety catch. The functional part of the
safety catch here is a rounded flexible tongue shaped so that,
after assembly of the safety catch in the body of the holster, it
extends into the through cavity of the body of the holster with its
free flexible end.
FIGS. 11 and 12 show a sectional view of the security system of the
gun in the holster where, on one lateral side of the holster, a
thumb safety catch is used according to FIGS. 5 and 6, whilst on
the opposite lateral side of the holster there is an index-finger
safety catch according to FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 11 the safety
catches are in the resting position and their functional parts
extend into the inner cavity of the holster in the area of the
trigger guard of the gun. In FIG. 12 the two safety catches are
squeezed, thus freeing the inner space of the holster cavity to
allow for withdrawal of the gun. FIGS. 13 and 14 likewise show the
security system of the gun in the holster where, on one lateral
side a thumb trigger according to FIGS. 5 and 6 is used, whilst on
the opposite lateral side there is a resistance safety catch
according to FIGS. 9 and 10. In FIG. 13 the thumb safety catch is
in the resting position and its functional part extends into the
inside cavity of the holster in the area of the trigger guard of
the gun, in FIG. 14 it is squeezed, thus freeing the inner space of
the holster cavity. In both these cases, the position of the
resistance safety catch remains unchanged. FIGS. 15 and 16 show a
similar combination of safety catches to those in FIGS. 13 and 14,
but instead of the thumb safety catch, there is an index-finger
safety catch. A variant is shown in FIG. 17, where along the two
lateral sides of the body of the holster there are resistance
safety catches according to FIGS. 9 and 10.
FIG. 18 shows an embodiment of a twin-torsional distancing spring
which serves to press the functional part of the thumb and
index-finger safety catches into the inner space of the holster
cavity in the area of the trigger guard of the gun. For the sake of
clarity, FIGS. 19 to 21 show in dismantled state the assemblies of
holster body and relevant safety catches, in FIG. 19 with
index-finger safety catch, in FIG. 20 with thumb safety catch and
in FIG. 21 with resistance safety catch. FIG. 22 shows an assembly
of holster body with mounted safety catches, on one side with thumb
safety catch and on the opposite side with resistance safety catch.
FIG. 23 shows a similar assembly with resistance safety catches
along both sides of the body of the holster. FIG. 24 shows an
assembly according to FIG. 22, with the additional security of a
covering flap, in FIG. 25 with the additional security of a
restraining strap. FIG. 26 shows the assembly according to FIG. 23
with the additional security of a covering flap, FIG. 27 with the
addition of a restraining strap. FIGS. 28 to 31 show various
embodiments of the holster support, with body rests for the support
in FIGS. 28 and 31. FIGS. 32 to 36 show several embodiments and
various views of the flat plastic body of the holster with spacer,
where the lateral sides of that body are bent into a U-shape to
form the subsequent through cavity and secured in the desired
position, for example by a screw and nut. FIG. 37 shows an example
of the spacer. FIGS. 38 to 43 show examples of a further embodiment
of the resistance safety catch which has an inner spring with the
same function as a thumb and index-finger safety catch and which
uses the same pins and springs. Its lower part is rounded for the
taper of the trigger guard of the gun and full deflection of the
safety catch during withdrawal of the gun from the holster. FIG. 38
shows a lateral view of this resistance safety catch with inner
spring and pin; FIG. 39 is a view in the direction of the inside of
the holster with the positioning of the resistance safety catch as
in FIG. 38. FIG. 40 shows a vertical section of the body of the
holster with the resistance safety catch, and FIG. 41 is a view
from the outer side of the resistance safety catch in the body of
the holster. The resistance safety catch is shown from the inner
side in FIG. 42, and also from the inner side in FIG. 43, with
mounted pin and inner spring.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the handgun holster comprises a shaped
self-supporting body 1 made of plastic with through cavity for
inserting and withdrawing the gun, which is furnished with a
support 16 for attaching the holster to the user (the support 16
can also be furnished with a body rest 17) and also with a safety
catch 7 and a security system against removal of the gun from the
holster (restraining strap 6 or covering flap 19). In the rear wall
of the body 1 of the holster, there is an upwardly open slot to
facilitate the insertion and withdrawal of the gun.
In each of the two side walls 2 of the holster body 1, in the area
designed for ensuring the position of the inserted gun, there is a
specularly arranged recess 20 in which a trigger safety catch 7 is
lodged. The side walls 2 of the body 1 of the holster are
specularly arranged and are reinforced in the area of the recess
20. This recess 20 has an opening 21 for passage of the functional
part 11 of the safety catch 7 into the cavity of the holster in the
area designed for positioning the trigger guard of the gun. The
outer covering of the safety catch 7, in the resting position, fits
against the outer peripheral surface of the recess 20. The
functional part 11 of the safety catch 7 is a flat projection 22
whose outer perimeter is smaller than the outer perimeter of the
covering of the safety catch 7, so that this covering bears against
the shoulder formed along the inner perimeter of the recess 20.
Each safety catch 7 is positioned on a pin 8 fastened into the
corresponding side wall 2 of the body 1 of the holster.
The safety catch 7 in one of the embodiments is a twin-arm lever
and is pushed by its functional part 11, under pressure from a
distancing spring 9 positioned in a shaped recess of the functional
part 11 on a pin 8 (which forms the rotational axis of the safety
catch 7), into the through cavity of the body 1 of the holster and
at the same time it is furnished with a stop 12 of the opening
motion of the safety catch 7. The control part 10 of the safety
catch 7 can project from the body 1 of the holster. This involves
the so-called thumb safety catch (FIGS. 5 and 6). In another
embodiment, the whole outer surface of the safety catch 7 fits
against the outer surface of the side wall 2 of the body 1 of the
holster. This involves the so-called index-finger safety catch
(FIGS. 7 and 8). The functional part 11 of the safety catch 7, in
the secured functional position, is pressured by a spring 9 into
the inner through cavity of the holster in the area of the trigger
guard, where it rests in this position against the shoulder formed
along the inner perimeter of the recess 20. In the secured
functional position against the pressure of the spring 9, in which
the functional part 11 of the lever fits against the surface of the
through cavity of the holster, the safety catch 7 rests against the
stop 12 at the bottom of the recess 20.
The control part 10 of the lever of the thumb safety catch 7 is
user comfortable, has an ergonomic shape with an axially deflected
and widened blade facilitating control in all modes of year-round
use of the holster. The shape of the control part 10 of the lever
of the safety catch 7 also permits use of this safety element as a
dual safety catch, that is using the thumb and index-finger at the
same time and in all modes of use of the holster. It is also
possible to use each of them independently without limiting the
performance of any of the parts used. An advantage of this
additional safety and also security element lies in the ease of
assembly and serviceability for the required security arrangement.
It is advantageous that the safety catch 7 is a unified assembly
part for the thumb and index-finger embodiments. This two-stage
security arrangement is simple and safe, release of the two safety
catches 7 (positioned along the two lateral walls 2 of the body 1
of the holster) occurs at the same time, essentially automatically,
on grasping the gun in the holster with the thumb and index-finger
of the appropriate left or right controlling hand, or successively
in whichever order is chosen. The index-finger safety catch does
not protrude at all from the holster, thus limiting the chances of
some equipment or other outer object getting caught on the safety
catch from outside the holster.
The security mechanism in all these active security elements is the
same. In inserting the gun into the holster, the trigger guard
overcomes the resistance of the deflected functional part 11 of the
safety catch 7. Securing of the gun occurs automatically after
complete insertion of the gun as far as the inner stop of the
holster. The security element in the case of the index-finger
safety catch 7 is controlled by the index-finger of the relevant
controlling hand of the user, by squeezing the upper contact
surface of the controlling part 10 of the safety catch 7. By
pressing the contact surface under the level of the side wall 2 of
the holster, the functional part 11 of the lever is deflected,
whereby actual release of the safety mechanism occurs. The gun is
released and ready to be withdrawn from the holster. After
withdrawal of the gun, return deflection of the functional part 11
of the lever of the security element into the cavity of the holster
occurs automatically. The mechanism is thus ready for repeat
securing of the gun during insertion into the holster.
In another embodiment, the functional part (11) of the safety catch
(7) is a rounded flexible tongue (3) shaped so that it extends,
with its free flexible end (4), into the through cavity of the body
(1) of the holster in the area of the trigger guard of the gun,
whilst its upper end with the stop 12 rests against the bottom of
the recess 20 in the side wall 2 of the holster (FIGS. 9 and 10).
This so called resistance safety catch, like the index-finger
safety catch, fits with the whole of its outer surface against the
outer surface of the side wall 2 of the body of the holster. During
insertion and securing of the gun in the holster, the flexible
tongue 3 is pushed by the trigger guard of the gun to the side wall
2 of the body 1 of the holster, and when the gun is inserted as far
as the inner stop of the holster, the tongue 3, again thanks to its
flexibility, returns to its initial position in the cavity of the
holster and secures the gun in position. After its complete
insertion as far as the inner stop of the holster, the gun is
secured automatically by the return springing movement of the
protruding, flexible shaped surface of the tongue 3 into the free
space above the frame of the trigger guard.
The resistance safety catch 7, which can also contain an inner
spring 9, basically works like a thumb and index-finger safety
catch and uses the same pins and springs (FIGS. 38 to 43). The
shape is the same as in all the safety catches, except that in the
lower part the safety catch is rounded for the taper of the trigger
guard and full deflection of the safety catch during withdrawal of
the gun from the holster. This element can be mounted in pairs or
in combination with all current types of safety catches. The basic
difference between the resistance safety catch 7 with inner spring
9 and the index-finger safety catch (see FIGS. 7 and 8) lies in the
possibility of releasing and withdrawing the gun from the holster,
simply by overcoming the resistance of the inner spring 9 without
the need for any action, that is without releasing the safety catch
with the index-finger of the relevant control hand. A further
difference between the resistance safety catch 7 with inner spring
9 and the resistance safety catch according to FIGS. 9 and 10 lies
in the possibility of setting the resistance of the securing
elements by replacing the inner spring 9 with a stronger or weaker
one, according to the requirement of the user. The user of the
holster is thus able to regulate the resistance of the safety catch
during withdrawal of the gun from the holster, and can adjust the
resistance of safety catches by using springs of various strengths
or shapes. Use of springs has the advantage of increasing the
life-span by comparison with plastics which suffer from material
fatigue, and is advantageous from the point of view of long-term
durability and frequent use of the security element.
The side walls 2 of the body 1 of the holster are furnished on
their outer surface with a circular recess 14 with cogged perimeter
15 and a central threaded opening 18 for adjustable fastening of
the support 16 of the holster, or of the end of the restraining
strap 6 or the release lever 5 of the restraining strap 6, or of
the covering flap 19. The support 16 is furnished, on its bearing
surface, with molded teeth which mesh with the complementary teeth
in the side wall 2 of the body 1 of the holster. The actual arrest
is accomplished by their screw-like connection.
There can be various embodiments of the support 16, generally
serving to fasten and carry the holster on the user's belt. The
fastening system facilitates the setting of the angle of the
holster according to the requirements of the user and the use of
the support in right-handed or left-handed assemblies. The width of
the belt can be set by means of an adjustable catch.
The body 1 of the holster is further provided with a security
system against withdrawal of the gun from the holster, which is a
plastic, flexible, flat restraining strap 6 to go around the gun
and a plastic release lever 5 for that strap 6, mutually connected
at the control point by a latching connection, by a snap rivet for
example. The user of the gun unfastens the restraining strap 6 and
the release lever 5 by deflecting the release lever 5 to the side,
in the direction away from the body 1 of the holster, towards the
support 16 for attaching the holster to the user. The snap rivet is
thereby unfastened and the restraining strap 6 is released.
Security against withdrawal of the gun is assured by the opposite
procedure, by fastening the snap rivet with the pressure of the
release lever 5 against the other part of the clasp on the
restraining strap 6. The release lever 5 is the controlling element
of the security system described here.
A further system element for additional safeguarding of the gun is
the covering flap 19, which is used for additional protection of
the gun in the face of heightened possibility of damage, of
appropriation of the gun by a stranger, or for long-term covering
of the gun against adverse meteorological conditions. Attachment of
the covering flap 19 is again effected by means of a screwed
connection with anchorage in the side wall 2 of the holster in the
position of the cogged segment (circular recess 14 with cogged
perimeter 15 and central threaded opening 18), between the body of
the holster and the belt support.
The kit of uniform parts for the holster permits a high degree of
variability depending upon the intended use and requirements of the
user. It is possible, quite simply and without the need for
modification and further parts, to arrange a right-hand holster on
the left, and vice-versa. This is economically advantageous,
particularly in armed units where individual membership is
constantly changing and therefore also the ratio of right- to
left-handed members. A further economic advantage is the basic
simplification of logistical security, as it is not necessary to
stock and keep separate records of supply items for right and
left-handed members. The multi-functional holster, with support 16,
safety catch 7 and restraining strap 6, permits not only user
modification of the holster from right to left side and vice-versa,
but also easy dismantling of the safety catch 7 or restraining
strap 6, so that it is possible to select only one of these
security systems. That may be preferable for members of special
units where one security system is sufficient and speed of use is
favoured over multiple safety measures. A further possible
modification in the function of the holster is the replacement of
the thumb safety catch 7 by an index-finger or resistance safety
catch 7. That modification can be carried out easily and quickly by
simply transferring the thumb safety catch 7 (including its spring
9 and pin 8) to the opposite side wall 2 of the holster.
The front wall of the body 1 of the holster has a guide groove 13
for the gun sights, on the inside and running from top to bottom of
said front wall. The integrated guides so formed for the sights
guide and demarcate the position of the gun in the holster during
insertion and withdrawal, and protect the sights against damage
during manipulation of the gun in the holster. The shape of the
guide for the sights, with the protruding side walls of the guide
groove 13 running from top to bottom of the holster, together with
the bend in the mould of the body 1 of the holster, in the grooves
located on the inner side of the mould of the body 1 of the holster
along both sides of the guide for the gun sights, increases the
rigidity of the holster.
The body 1 of the holster can be a flat plastic part with spacer
(see FIGS. 32 to 37), the lateral sides of which are then bent into
a U-shape, so that the spacer (FIG. 37) defines the closed or
partly open through cavity for inserting the gun into the holster.
The spacer can be made of plastic, rubber or metal and determines
the shape and dimensions of the inside cavity of the holster
according to the shape of the gun and at the same time it acts as a
braking and spacing element to ensure the comfort of the user
according to his/her specific requirements on putting the gun into
the holster.
The holster is designed for a handgun and allows for simple
adjustment, without the need for modification and further parts,
from a right-hand to a left-hand holster and vice-versa, according
to the intended use and requirements of the user. It also allows
the user to choose one or more safeguards for the gun in the
holster, again according to the specific intended use of the
gun.
Having described a few example embodiments, it should be apparent
to those skilled in the art that the foregoing is merely
illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of
example only. Numerous modifications and other embodiments are with
the scope of ordinary skill in the art and are contemplated as
falling with the scope of the invention.
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